Brake mechanism



' tures being pointed out in the end of the specification.

Patented July 27, 192 6. YY it as W,

Q mmnx w. PIGHEQOF nnrnorr, MICHIGAN;

BRAKE -MECHANIS1VI;

Application filed ma 9', 1924-, Serial no. 691,546;RenewedNovember27,'1925.,

r This invention relates to brake necha- Ilism and more particularly tothe variety.

capable .of beingoperated selectively-for braking oneof a pair ofvehicle traction; members as useful, for example, where one of themembers or wheelshas lost efiective tractive engagement with the ground.One ob ect of the nvention is to provide brake,

mechanism of the variety comprising 411621115 for equalizing the {forceapplied to the brakes, With a simple and practical selective controlmechanism of acharacter economical. to install and convenient tooperate. Another object is to provide a selective, brak ing mechanismot'the above character cornprisingisafety means forreturning the sealect ve, port on to neutral posltlon and for releasablyholdingthe latterin' such position exclusively. To these and other ends the i, inventionresides in certain improvements and combinations of parts all as will behere inafter more fully described, the novel feaclaims at the In thedrawings H Figure 1 is a top planview of a vehicle frame having thepresent invention applied thereto;,'

Fig. 2is a sectional elevation on the; line L the braking mechanismgclescribedabove for the'qpurpose Damnamy eliminating the 7 equalizingaction of-beam21to thereby actu- 3 ate the brakes selectively andindividually by v 2 2 in Fig. l;

'Figsr3 andl are enlarged rear elevations of aportion of theselecti'vemechanlsm;

Fig: 5--i's an enlarged section on the line Y r the, operating means or.lever 25, for the pure stantially as seen from the line 6 6" in Fig. 5

Similar the several views indicate the samepartsa The present inventionis parti'c-ularlyflapv plicable to brake mechani'sms'of the varietycomprising anequalizing device forequal izing the forces, applied to the1 individual brakes, as in various types of mechanisms now in use, forexample, in motor vehicles The invention is disclosed herein, by Way ofillustration, as applied to a common variety of automobile chassiscomprising .a body (Figure 1) supported on a forward pair of wheels 11and'a pair of rear 1 frame 10,

wheels 12' driven by differential gearing indicated generally at 13, aswell understood in v a rock shaft' 33 thBIQaI end of which, eX-;

the art. The rear wheels'are equipped with variety requiring no detaileddescription,

, thePother Wheel difiiculty.

each of'which isoperated by a transverse rock shaft 15. These shafts arerocked, as well understood in the art, through: an. arm

'l6 fixed on each and to which, are ,pivotally.

connected rods 17 the -forwardends of which ,arepivot'al'ly connectedwith respective arms '18 on corresponding short rockshaits 19 ('Figure'2). (Each of the latter. has fixed thereon an arm 20 between whichis located an actu -J atingequahzer device suclnafor example, as

a beam 21 the ends otwhich areengaged in sockets inthe ends of therespectivearms 20.;-

;'The equalizer beam 2l'isloosely supported on the rearjend of a rod 22extending forwardly under the floor 23 'ot'the' vehiclefiand pivotallyconnected at; 24 with the lower end i of an operating meansorlever, 25.The latvter ispivoted at 26 on abracket, under the floor and 1 extendsupwardly; through; an

opening inthe', latter. being-provided at? its upperendwith a handle 27anda fingerlpiece 28 operating a lockingdog 29 engaging a tooth sector30, for holding the brakes apv plied, The construction so far described.is

,oneflwell known in the art'qand operates ,WllBIl the lever 25 {ispulledv rearwardly. to

apply both brakes by force-equalized by the v action of the beam 21;

The present invention iscombined'with pose of concentrating the vdriving force in thatuone of' the Wheels having 'a' good grip I f uponthe ground, That is to say, should one reference numerals throughout 3the present, invention provides forapplying the brake to such Wheelalone to retardfits.

rotation and divert the driving force into to pulIthevehicle out of itsThe selective prises an adjustable stopfldevice for coop mechanismpreferably 'com .eration, with the, brakeconnections 'for' ob--structing the equalizing action of the brake beam. 5 21 and therebyconcentrating xthe braking force applied thereto in the other brake.v:To this end there; is-sup'ported in", bearings in transverse brackets31 and 32,

tends rearwardly' of bracket 32 and has fixed plate 84c-having arms 35.This deviceis located as shown between the arms 20 of the brakingmechanism which engage the ends of the equalizer beam and is so arrangedand proportioned that in the neutral position shown in Figure 8,tlieLbra-kin h nism is not engaged by the device 34 and hence isnormally left free to operate in the usual manner. By rocking shaft 33,how ever, one or the other vof the arms 35 is rocked in front of thecorresponding arm 20 to prevent braking actuation thereof'while leavingthe otheraarm free. With the device 34 so adjusted, application of thebraking force means of lever 25 operates the disengaged arm 20 andapplies the brake of the correspondingwheel exclusively. Vice versa,rocking of shalt 33 in the opposite direction and operation of lever 25applies the other brake exclusively, so that either brake is applied atwill and the other kept idle. The part 34 is provided with a hub orcollar 36 (Figure 2) bearing against the stationary bracket 32 whichthus "serves as an abutment resisting the forward thrust of the arms 20.On the opposite side of the bracket, shaft 33 has fixed thereon a collar37 between which and the ibracket is a compression spring 38 coiledabout the shatt to maintain the parts in position and preventrattle.

The above described stop device is controlled :by means-convenientlylocated on the vehicle floor in front 01f and close to the driverlsseat. To this end shaft 33 is extended forwardly .to this point or inother words, forwardly of its supporting bracket 31, at wliicli end ithas liked thereon a -T- shaped member 39 (Figure 5-) the standard ofwhich extends upwardly through a transverse slot 40 in the floor and toa short distance above .the latter to provide a handle 41 :for operatingthis mechanism. The cross arms 42 of member -39 have attached theretotension springs 43 secured at their upper ends to lugs 44 on bracket-31. It is apparent from this construction that while handle 41 isautomatically returned the springs upon release to the neutral centralposition of the 11 antsshown in Figures 3 and 5, the handle may beconveniently rocked transversely of the vehicle and manually :held inposition to effect selective control of the brakes, as illustrated inFigure Means are preferably provided for positively holding handle 41 inneutral position, such means being also advantageously adapted forcoveringand closing the slot 40 in which handle. 41 operates. "Thismeans comprises in the present instance a hingelike device including ahalf portion 45 fixed to the :fioor and having hinged thereto at 46 apivoted portion or cover vplate 4? arranged to close slot 40 when swungdownwardly against the floor as shown Figure 6. Preferably, suitablespring means'48 are provided for moving cover 47 to this position. Cover47 is formed with a recess 49 disposed to receive and positively holdhandle 41 in its neutral position'exclusively. By swinging cover 47upwardly, the handle may beoperated .ineither direction to apply eitherbrake but the handle cannot be locked in either operating position, andis automatically returned upon release to neutral position in whichposition cover 47 closes and holds it and closes slot 40.

The operation of the mechanism has been described in connection with theabove description of its construction and it is ap parent that when itis desired to operate the brakes selectively the cover plate 47 maybequickly raised and handle 41 swung by hand or foot to one side or theother preparatory to applying one or the other of the brakes exclusivelythrough the movement of the operating handle 27. By such adjustment,-

one of the arms is swung downwardly from the position of Figure 3 tothatof Figure 4 to hold one of the arms 20 and thus eliminate theequalizing action of the beam 21 as the latter'is drawn forwardly bypull ing rearwardly on the brake handle 27. One or the other of thebrakes is thus applied, as for example to retard the drive of a slippingwheel and concentrate the force in the other wheel. {Upon release of"handle 41 it is automatically returned bythespring means to neutralposition and locked in such position by the fall of the cover plate 47.While the mechanism may thus be" conveniently and quickly brought intooperation {pr selective bra-king, it is disposed in an outof-the-wayposition and normally positively held in neutral position to preventinadvertent interferencewith the normal braking action. I a 1 Theinvention may obviously 'be applied not only in combination with theusual emergency hand brake operated lever 25 as herein described, butalso with a service brake operated by a pedal as in common use in sometypes of vehicles and the invention is applicable as well, of course, toother brake systems having an equalizing device connected in a suitableway'so as-to accomplish the desired result oztallecting selectivebraking action. The exemplary embodiment herein disclosed is intendedmerely to illustrate one application of the above mentioned which hasbeen :found satisfactory in use, the invention being capable of variousmodifications within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a vehicle havi a pair of traction members,braking means for each of said members, and an opcrating means for saidbraking means connected'therewith by an equalizer, 026 51 device adaptedto be adj-ustably ositioned to selectively obstruct the operation ofdifferent device for saidbraking-means 'liaving' an equalizingconnection with thelatter, of an adjustable stop device adapted to bepas-1 tioned for variable cooperation with' said equalizing connectionto perm t select ve braking of said traction membersmdividually by saidoperating device.

3. The'co'mbination with a vehicle having a pair oftraction members,braking means "foreach' of said members, and an operating,

' means for said braking means havingcon necti'ons therewith comprisingan equalizer beam, of an adjustable stopdevice adapted to be positionedfor cooperation with said connections so as toobstruct the inovement'ofeitlier end of said beam and thereby ef feet selective braking of saidtraction inem bers 'i'ndividually by h said operating means. 4.Thecombination-with a vehicle having pair ,of traction ime'mbers, bra-lcingimeans for each of sai dmembers, and an operating device for saidbraking means connected therewith by an equalizing part, of a pivoteddevice adapted to be swung to different positions for preventing theequalizing A action of said part and permitting selectivebraking of saidtraction members individually by said operating device.

5. The combination with a vehicle having a pair of traction members,braking means i for each of said members, and anoperating means for saidbraking means-having connections therewith comprising an, equalizerbeam, o'fa pivoted device adapted to'b'e swung to different positions"to prevent the equalizing action ofsaid'beam and efl ecting device forsaid braking means having an e ualizing connection with the latter,ofian- U a se ective braking of said tracti individually by saidoperating means.

6. The combination with a vehicle having a pair of traction members,braking means for each of said members, and an operating justable deviceadapted to be positioned for preventing the equalizing action of saidconnection and permitting selective braking" of said traction membersindividually by said operating device, and mechanism for operating saidadjustable device extending adjacent the drivers seat. 7. Thecombination with a vehicle having a pair of traction members, brakingmeans for each of said members, and an operating means forsaid brakingmeans having an equalizing connection with the latter,-. 'f a deviceadjustable froma neutral position to positions for selectivelyeliminating the equalizing action of said connection and ef fectingselective braking of said members of said adjustable device on memberswith said actuatingmember, and 'means movable to form a stop for pair oftraction members, of said members,

individually by saicrbpe mang means; and holding device for saidadjustable'device cos the latter exclusively I in operating with neutralposition.

8. The combination with a vehicle 1 having a pair ofdifferentiallydriven wlieels, brak 1 v ing means for each ofsaid wheels,andan' operatingmeans for said braking means having anequalizingconnection with the latter, of a stop device adjustablmfrom' neu; 5 fltral to difi'erent positions for variably eliir-' inating theequalizing action of; said con:

nection to eli ect selective: brakling of said" wheels individually bysaid operating means,

mechanism for adjusting said devic'ei extendmgad acent the drivers seat,and a holding device forv S3161 mechanism' cooperating therewith"exclusively in the nei' tralposition 9; The combination with? aanoperatingmeans for said braking means having-connectionsfwi'th thelatter compris I ingan equalizer beam, offaroclrshaft 'car ryingstopsadaptedfto be swung froma neutral "position to positions for" bringing Iy I I vehicle hav' I mg a pair of d fferent ally driveii'wheelsy brakingmeans for' each of said wheels, and

one ortlieother o fjsaid stops into"coop-- era tion-with saidconnections to prevent equal-f izing of saidfbeam' and selectively brakesaid wvheels by said operating means, an arm on said shaft extendingthrough a slot in the floor of said vehicle adjacent the drivers seat,spring means for returning said arm and shaft-to neutral position and aplate movable to cover and uncover-said slot having' a recess forreceiving and holding said arm in the neutral position of the latterwhen the-plate is, moved to cover the slot.- 10. The combination with avehicle having a pair of traction members, separatebrake mechanisms, anequalizer operatively connected with said brake mechanisms, of meansadjustable to prevent operation of either of said brake mechanisms bysaid equalizer While permitting operation of the opposite brakemechanism and actuating i means for the equalizer.

'11. In combination, 'a vehicle having a pair of traction members, abrake for each of said members, including release means,

separate operating connections for said brakes, a common actuatingmember for said connections, a .lever operatively' connected disablingeither of said connections while permitting operation of the other bysaid leverand actuating i i member. v 1

12. In combination, a vehicle having a a brake for each individualoperating connections for said brakes, each including an arm, anactuating member connected with said arms, an operatingmember connected"with the actuating member for moving the nections for said brakes, eachinclnding an arm; an actuating member having .ends operatively connectedWith said arms, a lever operatively connected with said actuating memberto efiect applicationof said brakes, and a manually controlled membermovable todisabie either of said arms while permitting operation of theother.

14. In combination, a vehicle having a pair of traction members a brakefor each of said members including release means individual operatingconnections for said brakes, a lever operatively associated with saidvconnections to effect application of the brakes, and disabling meansmounted inde pendent of said lever and movable to dis able either of theconnections hile perinit- 2g er iafi ee of the other by ai l ver- .1 n:Qm i. at 2a a ehi le havin a ra o tract n members, a b a e fo eac ofSaid m mbe -s in ludi ea mea s, individual operating connections forsaid brakes, a common actnating member iors aid connections, manuallycontrolled means for moving said a otnatin member to brake app y g P stion, a d iabh mew mew:- ed independent of said manually controlledmeans for rendering ineffective either of said o io Whi th {other isoperated t brake pp yin positi n 16. In combination, a vehicle having apai of tracti n memb r a Mak for a a m mbe inc uding r l a i sane d idul op a in ca ned a f r sa d brakes, ma u l y O ra le membe a s ciated'vith said connections for normally t ng mu ta eus op ratien f th Samdisabling m eans movable mai ially inde w5O ber to disable either ofsaid connectionsv pendently of said n m ly epe 'abl memwhile permittingoperation of the other by said manually operable n emjber and means 1 apd t ante naey retu n s id islm m ans t aerma poe m upo elease of thesame.

